Chapter 12 Ellowyn #2
“Well, that was . . . something,” I hedged, and Alois chuckled lowly. “If only Mother could see me now,” I remarked ruefully, and I felt Alois tighten beneath my hands before pulling away.
“I apologize, Ellowyn, that neither your parents nor your brother were here to witness our union,” Alois said carefully, and I searched his face for the truth of his words.
His eyes were still and serious, the ridges of his brow furrowed in a frown.
I reached out hesitantly before gently stroking the lines in his forehead.
His chest rumbled with pleasure, so I repeated the motion to the other side of his face.
“It’s alright, husband.” The word felt foreign on my tongue, but the spark in Alois’ eyes made me want to use it again. Maybe that was a way to manipulate him for my own purposes. “I understand why. It doesn’t mean I necessarily like it, but I do understand.”
At the core, my parents betrayed Lord d’Refan, Vespera, and the Northern Alliance—they let rebels into Katiska, unknowingly or not, which caused strife, panic, and death.
They had to be punished; that portion I understood.
The part of my heart that was still a girl longing for her family and the life before, however, took longer to adjust to the thought.
“I have this for you,” Alois said as I dropped my hand from his brow. The bangles on my arm rubbed against my skin, and I shuddered involuntarily. It felt wholly unnatural for these contraptions to be attached to my arms, to be sucking the magic from my skin as soon as I released it.
“As soon as you control it, I will remove them,” he intoned, his gaze fixed on where I was fiddling with the cuff. I stilled my motions before clasping my hands in front of me, trying to channel my mother’s teachings.
“And when will that be? When will I be afforded the opportunity to learn control?” I all but snapped.
A Mage separated from their magic for elongated periods of time experienced effects that ranged from mood swings to depression and, in some rare cases, even death.
I was already noticing the fluctuations in my emotions.
“I apologize, husband. Being separated from my magic is a disconcerting feeling.”
He hummed softly as he pulled a black box from his pocket.
“You may enroll in the Academy soon,” he said as he popped the box open.
Soon, but no finite time.
I was noticing that my new husband spoke in half-truths as often as possible.
My thoughts were temporarily distracted by the gleaming gold band that Alois procured. It was simple, no jewels or gems adorned it, but it was ornately beautiful with a second band snaking along the first like a vine.
“It’s beautiful,” I said honestly, and Alois hummed in approval before grasping my left hand and sliding the band onto my ring finger. The metal was cool against my heated skin, but I felt no nefarious properties within it.
“Now, everyone will know you’re mine,” he said possessively.
“I think they’ll know that anyway, Alois. I highly doubt you’ll let anyone so much as look at me before they’re fully aware of who I am to you,” I said dryly, and a manic grin spread across Alois’ face.
His hands came up to grasp my face, his heavy palms resting against my cheeks, before he lowered his mouth slowly to mine, claiming my lips in a sudden kiss. I tensed and my hands rose to push him away, disgust roiling my stomach. Instead, I fisted them in his shirt and forced the bile back down.
By any means necessary.
A small chuckle escaped Alois’ mouth as he teased at my lips, asking them to part. I opened and allowed his tongue to explore. I’d only ever kissed Torin before and wasn’t sure if that was even real, or if I’d imagined the whole exchange.
This kiss, though, this was real. Alois’ lips were hot against my own, his tongue skilled as he deftly plundered my mouth before nipping slightly at my bottom lip.
For the most part, I went along for the ride before tentatively tangling my tongue with his.
Alois groaned before pulling back and kissing me chastely once more.
"I would like to continue this back in the manor,” he whispered into my neck. “I’d rather not fuck my wife in Fate’s temple.”
He wants to fuck me. My blood ran cold at the thought.
My heart thundered as I froze, caught between two choices. My lack of voice and continued silence caused Alois to slump slightly, his hands unwinding from my hair and back.
“I understand,” he said lowly, attempting to pull from my embrace. But, for whatever reason, I couldn’t stand the loss of him, couldn’t stand him disappointed.
If fucking him gives you more freedom, more choices—then that’s what you do. By any means necessary.
I sighed into his tunic as Alois’ arms wrapped loosely around my lower back.
“Okay.” I nodded into his chest and felt him stiffen beneath me. His hands slowly pried me from his chest so he could stare into my eyes.
“Say that again,” he commanded, and I obeyed. How could I not? He owned me completely.
“Okay, yes,” I said again, and a feral grin broke out over his face.
“Then let’s go home, wife,” Alois growled, sweeping me from the room.